The Shiplap Backlash Has Begun

When HGTV's Fixer Upper started, Joanna Gaines was one of the first major designers to really embrace shiplap.

These wooden boards, which are arranged so that each panel overlaps the one below it, pay tribute to the historic past of old homes. True fans will remember a time when Joanna had to explain what "shiplap" was to homeowners, sometimes showing them her own farmhouse as an example.

Three seasons later, it seems like shiplap may be facing some backlash. In a recent article by Jezebel, one writer explained why she's sick of hearing about this material.

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"Chip and Joanna are drunk on shiplap," said Kelly Faircloth, the article's author. "And they are putting it places that it makes no stylistic sense. For instance, in the first episode of the [third] season, they put shiplap over the mantle of a tiled fireplace. Shiplap says rural or seaside; tiled fireplaces do not."

Faircloth goes on to argue that in addition to being overused on the show, shiplap makes homes look like barns instead of achieving the farmhouse look Joanna is going for. Jezebel also released the following video, which has sparked a major debate online:

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"Thank you for posting this. I love Chip and Joanna, but sometimes I'm like 'no more shiplap and white walls,'" said a Jezebel reader.

Shiplap decorating ideas have been blowing up on Pinterest, but it's their popularity that could just lead to its downfall. When Joanna first arrived on the scene, exposing shiplap instead of covering it up was a new idea that viewers sought to recreate in their own homes. But now that the look has become more widespread, it may be starting to lose its appeal.

Other commenters were quick to point out that shiplap might just work better in some regions than others. Another fan explained that this material comes from containers that were once used to ship cargo, so it's common in old Texas homes that were built along the railway. "I have shiplap in my 1947 garage in San Antonio, Texas, and there is a piece that is stamped with the name of a Honolulu shipping company," she said. "The wood is great quality hardwood that had to withstand moisture. It's hard to find great hardwood anymore. So if you find some, hang on to it!"

It's this type of character that has us tuning in to watch every new design decision Joanna makes. When it comes down to it, nothing makes our country hearts happier than chippy old paint!